Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and General Electric (NYSE:
GE) yesterday closed their transaction to create a joint venture,
NBCUniversal, LLC. Under the terms of the transaction, GE contributed to
the joint venture NBC Universal, Inc.’s businesses, including its cable
networks, filmed entertainment, televised entertainment, theme parks,
and unconsolidated investments. Comcast contributed its cable networks,
including E!, Versus and the Golf Channel, its regional sports networks,
certain digital media properties, and made a payment to GE. The new
company is 51 percent owned by Comcast, 49 percent owned by GE, and
managed by Comcast. It maintains its headquarters in New York City.
Comcast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian L. Roberts said,
"This transaction brings together the rich traditions of some of the
world’s most well known and respected entertainment, news and sports
brands at NBCUniversal with the technology and consumer reach of
Comcast, creating the ideal entertainment and distribution company. We
are very appreciative of all of the hard work that Jeff Immelt and his
team at GE put into this transaction over the past year and are thrilled
to have the highly talented team at NBCUniversal be a part of the
Comcast family.”
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, "NBCU has been a great business
for GE over the past 20 years, generating an average annual return of 11
percent. Reducing our ownership stake to 49 percent allows GE to
continue sharing in NBCU’s growth while also providing significant cash
to invest in our high-technology infrastructure businesses. I want to
express GE’s and my special thanks to the talented and dedicated
employees of NBCU who have built a world-renowned business and are its
heart and soul. We are excited by the growth opportunities ahead for
NBCUniversal under Brian Roberts, Steve Burke and the Comcast team’s
leadership.”
Morgan Stanley served as lead financial advisor to Comcast with UBS and
BofA Merrill Lynch acting as co-advisors. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as Comcast’s legal advisors. J.P.
Morgan was lead financial advisor to GE with Goldman Sachs and Citi
acting as co-advisors. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP was GE’s and
NBCUniversal’s legal advisor.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com)
is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information
and communications products and services. Comcast is principally
involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in
the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news,
sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet
and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is
the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates
entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast
networks, local television station groups, television production
operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company
taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and
power generation to financial services, health care solutions and
television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and
employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the
company's website at www.ge.com.
